Toys



pt. 3, 1968 L. D. SIEGLER 3,399,487

TOYS

Filed Aug. 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Shee,t 1

INVENTOR Lawrence D. Slegler *-3 Fig 6 5, Z Z M 22 I BY 21,,- F' g 5 ATTORNEYS p 3, 1968 L. a. SIEGLER 3,399,487

TOYS

Filed Aug. 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lawrence D. SIegIer W% %6 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,399,487 TOYS Lawrence D. Siegler, 2965 Randy, Farmers Branch, Tex. 75234 Filed Aug. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 478,839 6 Claims. (Cl. 4675) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy projectile having a hook at its forward end engageable by an elastic band by which the projectile may be catapulted into the air and a pair of rear end flaps which are releasably held in retracted positions in longitudinal alignment with the body of a projectile by a resilient strip folded between the end flaps, the strip moving the end flaps to extended positions at an angle to the body of the projectile a short period of time after the projectile has been catapulted into the air.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly to a toy projectile.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved toy projectile, simulating a missile or the like, which may be catapulted into the air to a relatively great height at a high velocity and which descends slowly and with a rotary movement after reaching the highest point in its trajectory.

Another object is to provide a toy projectile which offers mini-mum air resistance to its movement in the upward portion of its trajectory in order that it may attain a relatively high altitude and which has means extendable when it reaches the highest point in its trajectory to increase air resistance to its movement in the downward portion of its trajectory and to impart rotation thereto.

Still another object is to provide a projectile having hook means at its forward end engageable with an elastic band or the likht by means of which the projectile may be catapulted into the air, rear end flaps movable outwardly relative to the projectile, and means for releasably holding the flaps in retracted positions in longitudinal alignment with the body of the projectile for short period of time after it has been catapulted into the air.

A further object is to provide a projectile wherein the rear end flaps are held together in retracted position by a resilient adhesive strip bent on itself with its adjacent sections adhesively secured to one another and between the flaps when the flaps are in retracted position, wherein the sections disengage after a short period of time after being moved into an adhesive engagement to permit the resilent strip to move the rear flaps outwardly.

A still further object is to provide a toy projectile formed of a minimum number of separate pieces which is easily packed in a small volume package and which may be easily and quickly assembled for use.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a 'device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toy projectile embodying the invention with its rear end flaps secured in retracted position in longitudinal alignment with the body of the projectile in position to be catapulted into the air;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the projectile showing the projectile with its end flaps held in extended positions by the resilient strip during its downward move- 'rnent through the air;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a catapult which may be used to throw the projectile into the air;

FIGURE 4 is a side view, with some parts broken away, of the toy projectile;

FIGURE 5 is a front edge view of the projectile with its end flaps in their retracted positions;

FIGURE 6 is a front edge view of the projectile showing its end flaps in extended positions;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged partly sectional view of the rear end of the projectile showing its end flaps in extended positions;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another form of the toy projectile showing its end flaps in parallel retracted positions;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the projectile of FIGURE 9 showing its end flaps in their expanded positions;

FIGURE 11 is a side view of the projectile illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 with portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1212 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken on line 1313 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of another rnodified form of the toy projectile showing its end flaps in their parallel retracted positions; and

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the toy projectile of FIGURE 14 showing its end flaps in their extended positions.

Referring now to the drawings, the projectile 10 includes a pair of thin fiat body pieces 11 and 12 of a suitable light substance.

A flat hook member 13 made of cardboard or other suitable substance of greater strength that the substance of which the two body pieces are formed is disposed between the body pieces at their front end portions. The front ends of the strips 11 and 12 and the hook insert 13 have side edges which converge forwardly to form the forwardly tapered nose or front end portion 15 of the projectile. The hook strip has a rearwardly opening hook portion 16 extending laterally outwardly from one edge thereof below the front end portion of the projectile. The hook is adapted to be engaged by the rubber band 17 of the catapult 18 which includes a handle rod 19' to which the rubber band is secured. The substance of which the hook piece 13 is :made is of greater specific density than the substance of which the body'strips 11 and 12 are formed to make the front end portion of the projectile heavier than its outer portions. The hook strip may be secured to the body pieces by an adhesive or by staples 20 or the like. Staples are preferably employed to further increase the weight of the front end portion of the projectile.

The body pieces 11 and 12 have end flaps 22 and 23, respectively, which are bendable outwardly along the transverse bend lines 24 and 25 to positions wherein they extend substantially perpendicularly outwardly in opposite directions. The body pieces between the hook piece 13 and the bend lines may be secured to one another in any suitable manner as by an adhesive or the like. In addition, a staple 26 may be employed for this purpose and located forwardly of the bend lines.

The end fiaps 22 and 23 are biased outwardly'to the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2, 6 and 8 by a resilient strip 27 one of whose surfaces has a layer of adhesive so that the sections 28 and 29 thereof extending in opposite directions from its middle bend portion 30 may be secured to the inner surfaces of the end flaps 22 and 23, respectively, by pressing the resilient strip sections thereto. The resilient strip 27 may be of the type which is available commercially under the name 565 Vinyl Foam Tape manufactured by Behr-Manning Division of Norton Abrasive Company. The substance of which the resilient strip is made has cohesive property so that when the sections 28 and 29 are moved toward one another about the bend portion 30 and pressed into contact by pivoting the end flaps to their retracted positions, as illustrated in FIGURES l, 4 and 5, the abutting surface sections 28 and 29 adhere to one another against the resilient force exerted by the bend portion 30 of the strip for an appreciable but short period of time at which time the resilient force of the bend portion will move the end flaps to their extended positions.

The substance of which the body pieces are made may also be somewhat resilient and after the end flaps are folded outwardly and downwardly they tend to assume the perpendicular positions illustrated in FIGURE 8 so that the resilient force of the panels at their bend lines 24 and will also tend to move them to their extended positions.

The toy may be packaged in a suitable plastic bag or other container with the resilient strip 27 separate from other elements of the toy and with the side thereof having the adhesive protected by suitable protector or backing strip (not shown). The end flaps are preferably in their retracted positions to make such package flat and the bend lines 24 and 25 of the body pieces may be indicated either by a score line or by a black or colored line.

When the projectile is to be used, it is unpacked from the package, the end tabs 22 and 23 are bent along the bend lines 24 and 25 to positions slightly downwardly of the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2, 6 and 8 so that when they move back resiliently, they tend to assume the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2, 6 and 8. The resilient strip 27 is then positioned over the end flaps and its section 28 is secured to the inner surface of the end flap 22 and its section 29 is secured to the end flap 23. The end flaps are then moved to their retracted positions, the resilient strip bending about its middle bend portion 30. The two end flaps are then pressed toward one another to cause the inner surfaces of the resilient strip sections 28 and 29 to move into contacting and adhesive engagement.

The two end portions are then held between the thumb and forefinger of the one hand, the loop of the elastic band 17 of the catapult 18 is engaged with the hook 16 and, while the handle rod 19 is held in the other hand, the projectile is moved rearwardly and away from the handle rod causing the resilient elastic band to be stretched. The projectile is then aimed upwardly and when the person using the toy then releases the flaps, the projectile is thrown or catapulted upwardly into the sky. As the velocity of flight of the projectile decreases as it reaches the upper portion of its trajectory, the force of the air which acts on the outer side surfaces of the end flaps tending to hold them against outward movement decreases and at the same time the adhesive force between the inner surfaces of the sections 28 and 29 also is decreased due to the inherent characteristics of the substance of which the strip is made so that when the projectile reaches the top of its trajectory and the projectile noses over downwardly, before the velocity of the projectile can again increase, the resilient force of the bend portion 30 of the strip 27, and also of any resilient force of the body members 11 and 12 at their bend lines or portions 24 and 25, is effective to move the strip sections 28 and 29 out of adhesive engagement with one another. The resilient strip then moves and holds the flaps 22 and 23 in their extended positions illustrated in FIGURE 8.

The great resistance now offered by the end flaps to the movement of the projectile slows down the descent of the projectile and also causes the projectile to rotate about its longitudinal axis during its descent.

It will now be seen that since the end flaps of the projectile are held in their retracted positions during the upward portion of its trajectory, the projectile offers a minimum resistance to its movement through the air during the upward portion of its trajectory and offers a large resistance to its movement through the air during the downward portion of its trajectory whereby a relative small force will cause the projectile to attain a high altitude and cause it to have a relatively long period of descent.

It will further be seen that the rotary movement imparted to the projectile causes it to rotate during the period of descent thus imparting additional amusement value to the toy.

It will also be seen that a new and improved toy projectile has been illustrated and described which is of simple inexpensive construction which can be packaged in a very small volume and which is easily assembled at the point of use.

It will further be seen that the toy projectile is formed of a planar means, such as the body pieces .11 and 12, which provide a forward or nose portion and a pair of end flaps spaced rearwardly of the forward portion and which are movable between retractable positions wherein they are in alignment with the planar means and extended position wherein they extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions relative to the planar means.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 9 through 13 of the drawings, the toy projectile includes a single body piece 51 of a flexible somewhat resilient substance, such as cardboard or the like. The body piece has a pair of substantially parallel planar body sections 52 and 53 which extend from the middle bend portion 54 thereof and a pair of end sections of flaps 55 and 56 which extend rearwardly from the ends of the body sections 52 and 53, respectively. The inner sides of the body sections 52 and 53 adjacent and forwardly of their bend lines 57 and 58 of the body piece at the juncture of the body sections with the end flaps are secured to one another in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive or bonding agent.

A hook member 60, preferably of a suitable heavy metal, is positioned between the body sections and the bend portion 54 and is secured to the body piece by an adhesive. The hook piece has rearwardly and laterally outwardly opening hook recesses 61 and 62 and the body sections 52 and 53 are provided with corresponding rearwardly and outwardly opening hook recesses 64 and 65 so that the loop of elastic member 17 may be received in either the aligned hook recesses 61 and 64 of the hook piece of the body section or the aligned hook recesses 62 and 65 thereof. The end flaps are biased outwardly to their extended positions illustrated in FIGURES l0 and 12 by a resilient strip 67 of the type previously described. The sections 68 and 69 of the strip extends in opposite directions from its middle or fold portions 70 with the surface thereof provided with the adhesive being secured thereby to the inner surfaces of the end flaps 55 and 56, respectively.

When the end flaps 55 and 56 are moved toward each other about their bend lines 57 and 58, respectively, the sections 67 and 68 of the strip are pivoted or bent toward one another about its middle or bend portion 70 and pressed into contact with one another. Since the substance of which the resilient strip is made has cohesive properties, at its surfaces which are not provided with the adhesive, the inner surfaces of the sections 67 and 68 adhere to one another for an appreciable but short period of time at the end of which the resilient force of the bent portion 70 thereof causes the adhering surfaces of the resilient strip to separate and the end sections 67 and 68 to move outwardly. The resilient strip thus moves the end flaps to their extended positions illustrated in FIG- URE 10.

It will be apparent that the toy projectile is launched or propelled upwardly into the air in the same manner as the toy projectile 10, the loop of the elastic band 17 of the catapult 18 being inserted into one or the other of the hook recesses of the body sections and the hook member. The handle or rod 19 is then held in one hand and the projectile is pulled rearwardly and away from the handle rod while its two end flaps are held between the thumb and forefinger of one hand with the inner surfaces of the sections 67 and 68 of the resilient strip pressed together. The projectile is then aimed upwardly and when the person using the toy then releases the end flaps, the projectile is thrown or catapulted upwardly into the sky. As the velocity of flight of the projectile decreases as it reaches the upper portion of its trajectory, the force of the air moving therepast which acts on the outer side surfaces of the end flaps to hold them against outward movement decreases and at the same time the adhesive force between the inner surfaces of the sections 67 and 68 of the resilient strip also decreases due to the inherent characteristics or properties of the substance of which the strip is made. When the projectile reaches the top of its trajectory and the projectile noses over downwardly due to the Weight of the hook piece 60 and before the velocity of the projectile can again increase substantially, the resilient force of the bend portion 70 of the strip 67, and also any resilient force of the body members 11 and 12 at their bend lines or portions 57 and 58, is effective to move the strip sections 68 and 69 out of adhesive engagement with one another. The resilient strip then moves the end flaps to their extended positions illustrated in FIGURES and 12. The relatively great resistance now offered by the end flaps to the downward movement of the projectile slows the descent of the projectile and also causes the projectile to rotate about its longitu dinal axis during the descent.

The toy projectile 50a is similar to the toy projectile 50 and, accordingly, the elements of the projectile 50a have been provided with the same reference numerals, to which the subscript a has been added, as the corresponding elements of the toy projectile 50. The toy projectile 50a differs from the toy projectile 50 in that resilient elongate members 75 and 76 are provided to increase the force with which the end flaps 55a and 56a are biased toward their extended positions illustrated in FIGURE 15. The resilient members may be formed of rubber or other elastic substance. The elastic member 75 has pins 77 and 78 secured to its opposite ends. The pins 77 and the end portion of the resilient member 75 to which it is secured are insertable through a suitable aperture or opening in the end flap 55a spaced outwardly of the bend line 57a while the pin 77 is held in a position perpendicular to the end flaps. Once the pin has been moved through such aperture it is moved to a position wherein it is parallel to and engages the inner surface of the end flap 54a thus preventing withdrawal of the elastic. The pin 78 similarly is insertable through aligned apertures of the body sections 52a and 53a while it is held in a perpendicular position relative thereto and is then moved to a position parallel to and contacting the outer surface of the body section 53a. The elastic member 76 similarly has pins 81 and 82 secured to its opposite ends which are insertable through suitable apertures in the end flap 55a and aligned apertures of the body piece sections 52a and 53a, respectively, so that the pin 81 will contact the inner surface of the end flap 56a and the pin 82 will contact the outer side surface of the body section 52a.

It will be apparent that the resilient members 75 and 76 which are inherently shorter in length than the distances between the points at which their pins engage the end flaps and the body sections when the end flaps are in their retracted positions, exert a force biasing the end flaps toward their extended positions illustrated in FIG- URE 15.

The projectile 50a is launched in the same manner as the projectile 50, the resilient strip 67a holding the two end flap sections in their retracted positions for an appreciable but short period of time against the resilient force of its own bent portion 70a and the force of the elastic members 75 and 76, as well as any resilient force of the body piece at its bent portions 57a and 58a. When the projectile reaches the top portion of its trajectory, the resilient force of the elastic members and of the bend portion 70a of the resilient strip is effective to move the end flaps outwardly to their extended positions to slow the descent of the toy projectile and to cause it to rotate. It will now be apparent that the projectiles 50 and 50a like the projectile 10 have end flaps which are held in their retracted positions during the upward portion of the trajectory of the projectile when it is catapulted or thrown into the air whereby these projectiles offer minimum resistance to their movement through the air during the upward portion of their trajectories and offer a great resistance to their movement through the air during the downward portion of their trajectories whereby a relatively small propelling force will cause the projectiles to attain a high altitude and cause them to have a long period of descent.

It will further be seen that the projectiles 50 and 50a have a rotary movement imparted thereto by the end flaps during their descent.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy projectile including: planar means providing a front end portion and a pair of rear end flaps spaced rearwardly of said front end portion, said flaps being movable between retracted positions wherein said end fiaps are in longitudinal alignment with said planar means in extended positions wherein said end flaps extend angularly and laterally outwardly in opposite directions relative to said planar means; and a resilient strip having sections secured to inner surfaces of said end flaps and a middle bend portion, said sections being in parallel abutting relationship when said end flaps are in said retracted positions, said sections adhesively engaging each other for a short period of time when pressed to one another whereby when said projectile is thrown upwardly into the air with its end flaps held in retracted positions by said resilient strip, said strip moves said end flaps to said extended positions after a short period of time to slow down the rate of descent of said projectile.

2. A toy projectile including: planar means providing a front end portion and a pair of rear end flaps spaced rearwardly of said front end portions, said end flaps being movable between retracted positions wherein said end flaps are in longitudinal alignment with said front end portion and extended positions wherein said end flaps extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions relative to said plana-r means; hook means secured to said planar means and extending outwardly of one edge of said planar means adjacent the front end of said projectile, said hook means being engageable by a resilient member adapted to impart a forwardly acting force to the forward end of said projectile; and a resilient planar strip having sections secured to inner surfaces of said end flaps and a middle bend portion, said strip being bendable about its middle bend portion whereby said sections are placed in parallel abutting relationships when said end flaps are in said retracted positions, said sections adhesively engaging each other for a short period of time when pressed to one another whereby when said projectile is thrown upwardly into the air with its end flaps held in retracted positions by said resilient strip, said strips disengage and move said end flaps to said extended positions after a short period of time to slow the rate of descent of said projectile.

3. A projectile including: a pair of planar body pieces of a light substance disposed parallel to one another; a

hook strip interposed between front end portions of said body pieces and having a hook portion extending outwardly of the edges of the body pieces, said planar pieces having rear end flap portions bendable about bend lines extending transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of said projectile between retracted positions wherein said end flap portions are adjacent one another and in extended ositions wherein said end flap portions extend angularly outwardly from said body pieces in opposite directions; and a resilient planar strip having a pair of sections extending outwardly from a middle bend portion thereof and secured to inner surfaces of said end flap portions, said sections having a means adhesively holding said sections to one another for a short period of time after said end flap portions have been moved to their retracted positions and the sections moved about the middle bend portion thereof into parallel abutting relationship.

4. A toy projectile including: planar means providing a substantially elongate flat body portion and a pair of rear end flaps, said end flaps being movable between retracted positions wherein said end flaps are in longitudinal alignment with said body portion and extended portions wherein said end flaps extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions relative to said body portion; said body portion having hook means at its front end portion, said front end portion of said body portion being heavier than the rear end portion thereof, said hook means being engageable by a resilient member adapted to impart a forwardly acting force to the front end portion of said projectile, a resilient planar strip having end sections secured to inner surfaces of said end flaps and a middle bend portion, said resilient strip being bendable about its middle bend portion whereby said sections are placed in parallel contacting relationship when said end flaps are in said retracted positions, said sections adhesively engaging each other for a short period of time when pressed to one another whereby when said projectile is thrown upwardly into the air with its end flaps held in retracted positions by said resilient strip, said strip sec- 8 tions disengage and move said end flaps to said extended positions after a short period of time to slow the rate of descent of said projectile.

5. The toy projectile of claim 4, and elastic means connected to said body portion and to said end flaps at locations spaced rearwardly of said body portion for biasing said end flaps toward said extended positions.

6. A toy projectile including: an elongate planar body piece having a middle bend section, a pair of substantially parallel body sections extending rearwardly from said bend section and a pair of end flap sections extending rearwardly from said body sections, said end flaps being movable between retracted postions and extended positions wherein said end flaps extend angularly in opposite directions from said body portion; hook means between said body sections adjacent said bend section and secured. to said body piece, said hook piece having a rearwardly facing recess for receiving a propelling means; and means operatively associated with said end flaps for holding said flaps in said retracted positions for a short period of time and for moving said end flaps to said extended positions upon the expiration of said short period of time, saidmeans for holding and moving said end flaps comprising a resilient planar strip having sections extending outwardly from a bend portion thereof whose outer surfaces are adhesively securable to inner surfaces of said end flaps, said sections of said strip having inner surfaces which adhesively hold said sections in engagement when said sections are pressed against each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,746 8/1933 Guillow 46-80 2,105,579 1/1938 Baylis 46-75 2,417,267 3/1947 Porter 46-80 2,746,207 5/ 1956 Starkey 46-75 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. C. R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

